Daily Focus, May 23, 2020

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 19:1 – 20:43 (“He said, ‘I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword, and I, even I, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.'”)

This Week’s Memory Verse: “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.” Titus 3:14

Scroll down this page for a list of prayer requests.

Tomorrow Is The Lord’s Day! Though our gathering will again be virtual, we nonetheless are called to come together to honor God with our worship and our study of His word. Plan to join us for Bible classes at 9:15 (8:15 for children), and for worship at 10:15 and at 6:00. An email will be sent out this afternoon with the details for connecting to these offerings.

We’ve Been Walking By Faith: These last several weeks have been challenging times for us all. We’ve never been down this road (and hope to never return!) Along the way our elders have had to make difficult decisions, and all of us have been “feeling our way along”. But God’s promises have proven true once again, and we pray that we have kept the faith. Thanks to each of you who have prayed that our leadership will go in the right direction, and thanks to the many of you who have sent words of encouragement. Let’s stay strong, stay united, and keep our focus on the Lord. He will get us through this!

Need Communion Sets? Call me on my cell phone, and I’ll be happy to work out a time to meet you at the building. We want you to be able to commune with us in worship! (If you can’t get out, let me know and we will get the sets to you.)

Your Input Needed: To help us prepare for reopening our building to worship, we want to hear your input. If you’ve not yet taken the brief survey, please do so by clicking here. We will close the survey early next week.

More Face Masks Delivered: On Wednesday evening we received another batch of face masks, these made and provided by Kathy Higginbotham. We have some talented and generous sisters helping to get us ready for in-person worship. Thanks!

Wonderful Grace! One of the more stirring songs we sing is “Wonderful Grace Of Jesus”. But more than a stirring song – it’s a stirring truth! If you click on this link you’ll be taken to a two-minute video of Acapeldridge, a one-man quartet, singing this song. You’ll enjoy this!

Remember These In Prayer:

Georgie Roten met with her ophthalmologist on Friday, and learned that not all of the cataract was removed on Thursday. There is pressure in her eye, and she was given drops to help with that. Her vision is still not as clear as she hopes, but she will be evaluated again next Friday.

Don Russell, brother of Charlie Russell, was taken to the ER Friday morning with kidney failure. He has been diagnosed as having toxic encephalopathy. Charlie asks that we pray for his doctors to be able to do what is best for him, and to give peace and comfort to him and his wife Anita. They live in Roseburg, Oregon.

Gene Arrowood is gradually getting stronger as he continues with therapy in Nashville as he spends some time with his daughters. Dennis Russell spoke with Gene on Friday, and said that Gene is hoping to be back in Johnson City in a few weeks. Cards may be sent to Gene in care of Gary Phillips, 108 Shepards Square, Nashville, TN 37211.

Report From Fred Selby: “June Selby was released from Cornerstone Critical Care Unit on Wednesday and returned home, hopefully to regain some semblance of normalcy in her and Fred’s life. She will continue to receive therapy at home for the next few weeks. Thanks to all who sent cards, made calls, and especially those who offered prayers on her behalf. There’s a long road ahead, but with God’s help we will make it. Fred and Family.”

Paula Tackett has been moved to ICU as she remains hospitalized due to the COVID-19 virus. Her husband, Joe, is not yet improving; he also is in ICU and is on a ventilator. The Tacketts are members of the Highland View Church of Christ in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Will Terry, 8-year-old son of former Central member Adam Terry and his wife Catherine, remains in PICU at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. He continues to make slow progress, and on Friday his sister was able to visit him for the first time since the accident. The family asks that we continue praying for him.

Murphy Elliott, wife of Steven Elliott, has been diagnosed with cervical cancer. Plans for treatment are being discussed. Steven, who is a grandson of Sandy and Charles Elliott, is a police officer in Cabot, Arkansas, and he and Murphy have a 9-months-old child.

The Greatest Human Achievement: * “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement.” (Augustine) * “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:26,27)